Vertical chutes



Oct. 24, 1961 A. scARAMUzzi VERTICAL CHUTES 2 Sheets-Skaail 1 Filed April 8. 1959 Oct. 24, 1961 A. scARAMuzzl 3,005,531

' VERTICAL CHUTES Filed April 8, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. HMT/aw cM/nwz/zz/ Unite States The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States of America for governmental purposes without the pay.- ment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

This invention relates to improvements in conveyors, and more particularly pertains to improvements in vertical chutes having baie means to retard the descent of cargo therein. Nylon webbing mesh is provided in a vertical baille retarding chute to improve the durability of the chute, add to its strength, and increase visibility of operation in a device characterized by its relatively light weight, minimum storage cube and high factor of accessibility. In addition, means to secure baie inserts'to the chute body, and means to sectionalize the chute for use at various drop heights are provided.`

The chute of the subject invention is an improvement over conventional vertical chutes made of sheet canvas or neoprene coated sheet nylon. Canvas chutes do not provide adequate resistance to wear, are damaged soon to the point of inoperability, and do not afford visibility throughout the traverse length. In addition, canvas chutes are too heavy, absorb moisture excessively, and are diicult to repair. Nylon chutes also are easily damaged,- present a continuous repair or replacement problem and do not afford visibility throughout the traverse length. Y Accordingly, the principal object of this invention is to provide an improved vertical chute with baiiie retarding means adapted for use in striking cargo from one level to a second lower level.

Another object is to provide a chute that is rugged and not readily susceptible to damage, that is light in weight and of minimum storage cube, and that provides visibility of operation and accessibility throughout its traverse @tem section 13 comprises a plurality of spaced horizontal webbing members 15 interlaced and sewn at each webbing intersection to a plurality of spaced vertical members 17. Stitching patterns that can be employed at each webbing intersection include a box X 19, a Z 21, a box 23, a W 25, or an equivalent. Each face of member 1l and section 13 is secured to one of its adjacent faces by Z stitching the free ends of the members 15 of one face to the corresponding members 15 of the adjacent face, preferably by means of Z stitching 27, as shown in FIG. 2.

A conventional rope sling 29 provided with spreaders 31 is used to suspend the vertical chute at its working site, such sling 29 depending from the hook of a crane (not shown) in the usual manner. The wires of sling 29 are each secured to one of the rings 31 of thel box channel frame 33, which in turn is secured to the vertical members 17, all as hereinafter described.

Box channel frame 33 comprises four struts welded together to define a rectangle. In each corner, a ring 31 is formed by a rod member that is bent into U shape, inserted into holes drilled in frame 33, and welded therein, as shown in FIG. l. Each member 17 terminates, at its upper end, in a free end. As shown in FIG. 3, such free end of the member 11 has stitched thereon a loop 35 which carries a D ring 37, and near its extremity a loop 39, which carries a harness hook 41. Thus the harness hook 41 and its loop 39 can be passed around a side of frame 33, doubled back upon its member 17, and hooked to D ring 37.

Proximate the lower end of member 11, upon each ofthe members 17 thereof, a strip of webbing 43 is j' formed: into a loop that carries a D ring 45, as shown length, cleanliness, and is readily adapted for use in striliing cargo from one level to any of a number of lower levels.

Y Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. l is a perspective view of a vertical chute, showing a preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is anenlarged perspective viewA of a corner of the intermediate section;

FIG. 3 is an'enlarged elevation, partly in section, of the lifting frame elements;

PIG. 4is an enlarged'elevation of a top and intermediate section coupling;

FlG. 5 is an enlarged elevation, partly in section, tails of the slider board structure; and

FIG. 6 is a side View of FIG. 5.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

The vertical chute comprises a member 11 that is substantially rectangular in cross-section and adapted to define a passageway from a first level to a lower level, as shown. Optionally, one or more intermediate sections 13 can be coupled to member 11, or can be coupled to another intermediate section, to provide an effective chute length spanning the traverse from the highest to the lowest levels desired to be employed.

Member 11 and section 13 each comprises slotted webbing forming a lattice. Each face of member 11 and of dein FIG. 4. At the upper end of each member 17 of the intermediate section 13, a strip of webbing 47 is formed into a loop that carries a harness hook 49. Proximate the lower end of member 13, upon each of the members 17 thereof, a strip of webbing 51 is formed into a loop that carries a D ring 53, as shown in FIG; 1. Thus the harness hook @can be fastened to the corresponding lower D ring of the member 11 or of an-` other intermediate section to provide increments of length for the conveyor chute.

VA iirst bafe slider board 55 is secured interior the chute proximate the mouth or upper level thereof, as shown in PIG. l, such board 55 being canted, preferably at an angle of 38 from the horizontal. The board has a rear edge secured to a member 15 of a first face of the chute, and has its side edges secured to members 17 of the faces of the chute adjacent said first face. The leading edge of board 55 terminates approximately midway of the chute width, as shown in FIG. l. Asecond bale slider board 57 is secured interior the chute kand is canted at the same' angle from the horizontal, but is oppositely disposed, as shown-in FIG. l: Board 57 has a rear edge secured to a member 15 of the face of the chute that is opposite the first face, and has its side edges secured to members 17 of the faces of the chute adjacent said opposite face. The rear edge of board 57 is positioned lower than the leading edge of board 55, and the leading edge of board 57 terminates approximately midway of the chute width, as shown in FIG. l. Similarly, successive boards such as 59, 61, 63, and 69 have their rear edges secured to the face opposite the face to which the rear edge of the next higher board is secured, and are canted downward similarly, so that a gravity drop of cargo 71, 73 and 75, arrested momentarily by the board before sliding off such board for descent to the next lower board, is accomplished.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, each slider board has a rear edge 77 that is beveled at an angle of 52 from the horizontal. A baille wear plate 79 of V shaped crosssection caps the said rear edge and extends upon the faceV of the board, being secured to said board by bolts 'and nuts 81. Plate 79 depends beyond the nether Yface o f said board. Baffie side support angles 83 cap the Ys1de edges and extend upon the -face ofthe board, being `secured to said board by bolts and nuts (not shown). lSjaiddangles 83 depend beyond the nether` face of said oar v In securing each slider board in the conveyor chute, a web is sandwiched between the depending portion of plate 79 andan aluminum reinforcement strip 85, bolts 87 passing through plate 79, web 15 and istrip 85 and being secured by nuts 89. Strip 91 is sewn to the `chute at the position of `each side of the board, so that such a strip and a web 17 is sandwiched between the depending portion of an angle 83 and an aluminum reinforcement strip 93, bolts 95 passing through angle 83, web 17, strip 91 and strip 93 and being secured by nuts 97.

In operation, the subject conveyor chute provides facile means for striking down cargo, as in movement of cargo through a ship hatch to storerooms below decks, where access to the storerooms is throughvertical openvings at each deck level. The speed o' descent of a package is retarded by theinclined baffles. In addition, the llexibility of the conveyor chute is of such an order that the swaying of the chute during operation absorbs partially the impact of cargo containers passing therethrough. The nylon webbing mesh aiords strength,

- Y 44"sposarsi ruggedness and visibility of loads throughout their descent path vso that Vjams and blockages can be relieved quickly, easily and without inordinate hazard to operating personnel. Compact stowage, at minimun; cube, and facile assembly of needed increments of effective f length, are also provided.

Obviously .many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in the light of the' above teachings. vIt is therefore to .be understood that within the scope of the appended claims the invention may be practiced otherwise than as speciiically described.

I claim: Y

1. A vertical chute comprising a box channel frame, a plurality of slotted vertical webs in spaced relation, a plurality of slotted `horizontal webs in spaced relation interlaced and coupled to said vertical webs to form a webbing lattice constituting a passageway, a plurality of D rings secured to selected 'vertical webs near the upper end of saidV webs, and a plurality of harness hooks each secured to one of said selected vertical webs at the upper end of said web, whereby said end of said web is adapted to encircle a side of said frame with said hook secured to said ring to depend said lattice from said frame, and a plurality of baille slider boards depending alternately from opposite portions of the 'interior of the chute defined by 'said passageway at successive levels thereof.

2. A vertical chute comprising a lbox channel frame,

a plurality of slotted vertical webs in spaced relation, a plurality of slotted horizontal webs in spaced relation interlaced and coupled to'said vertical webs to form a 4 webbing lattice constituting a passageway, a plurality of D 'rings secured to selected vertical webs near the upper end of said webs, and a plurality of harness hooks each secured to one of said selected vertical webs at the upper end of said web, whereby said end of said web is adapted to encircle a side 'of said frame with said hook secured to said ring to depend said lattice'from same frame, a plurality of D rings secured to selected vertical webs near the lower end of said webs, and a plurality of baffle slider boards depending alternately from opposite portions of the interior of the chute defined by said passageway at successive levels thereof. Y

3. A vertical chute comprising a box channel frame, a plurality of slotted vertical webs in spaced relation, a plurality of slotted horizontal webs in spaced relation interlaced and coupled to said vertical webs to form a webbing lattice constituting a rst passageway, a plurality of D rings secured to selected vertical webs near the upper end of said webs, and a plurality of harness hooks each secured to one of said selected `vertical webs at the upper end of said web, whereby said end of said web is adapted to encircle a side of said frame with said hook secured to said ring to depend said lattice from said frame, a plurality of bathe slider boards depending al ternately from `opposite portions of the interior of the chute defined by said passageway at successive levels thereof, a plurality of D rings secured to selected vertical webs near the lower end of said webs, and at least one second passageway comprised of a webbing lattice substantially similar to said lrst passageway, Abut having a plurality of harns hooks each secured to avertical web at the upper end of said web and adapted to be coupled to the corresponding D ring of said first passageway, and having a plurality of D rings secured to selected verticali webs "near the lower end of `said webs for coupling `to the harness hooks of another passageway.

4. The combination of claim 3 in which each baille slider board comprises a board, a V channel secured to the rear edge of said board and depending below `the nether face of said board, an L channel secured to each side edge of said board and depending below the nether face of said board, and means Vto secure said channels to said passageway, said means comprising a reinforce meut strip applied to sandwich a selected horizontal web between said strip and the depending portion of said V channel, and a webbing reinforcement strip sewn `to Yforcement strip,

said vertical webbing members coupled to another reinsaid coupled strips and the depending portion of said L channels sandwching portions of said vertical webbing members.

References Cited in the vfile of this patent UNITED STATES VPATENTS 391,051 Jones Oct. 16, r1888 395,455 Reiss et al. Jan. 1, `1889 707,297 Brink Aug. 19, 1902 1,069,849 Byrne n Aug. l2, 1913 y1,114,318 Vasey s Oct. 20, 1914 

